St George's Day awards

The following awards can usually only be awarded for St George’s Day, but can be awarded at other times in exceptional circumstances, (serious illness, for example). In such a situation, you should write a letter to the Chairman of the Awards Board and send it with the award application c/o the Awards Co-ordinator.

The Silver Acorn is not normally awarded until after at least an Award for Merit has been gained and a further five years’ service has been completed. Thus, it is seldom awarded for less than 20 years service, which should be specially distinguished and appreciably better than outstanding.

The Silver Acorn was instituted in 1932 as an award to rank between the Medal of Merit and the Silver Wolf. It was originally called the Silver Medal but changed to the Silver Acorn shortly after. It was also worn on the jacket and not around the neck. It was instituted as a St George’s Day Award in 1933 and the decision for it to be worn around the neck was made around 1952 when at the same time, the Bar to the Silver Acorn was instituted.

The Bar to the Silver Acorn may be awarded for at least a further 5 years of similarly distinguished service.

The Silver Wolf is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature although the Chief Scout will usually consult the Awards Board before awarding it. It is not normally awarded until at least a Silver Acorn has been gained. In practice this means that it is seldom awarded for less than 30 years service although, because it is the Chief Scout’s unrestricted gift, no length of service is prescribed.